Putting the cart before the horse

Regarding short-term single-family rentals, Sandy Hogan writes, “A detailed inventory of what we have would therefore be the first step...”

I gently suggest that this is putting the cart before the horse.

Before we spend a lot of time and effort with inventory and subsequent analysis, we, as a community, should decide if we want short-term single-family rentals. We need to discuss what the effects would be on our town and sense of community. Good or bad--both short term and long term?

If we decide bad, then we don’t need an inventory.

If good or acceptable, then an inventory is the next step. First things first.